NINETEEN-YEAR-old singer/pianist Joshua Gay is a well-rounded young man who likes to keep it real.
?In his short career on the local scene he has got enough plaudits that say he is one of the future pillars of Barbados’ music industry.
His ability to sing and play the piano has come naturally and it can be traced to the influence of grandparents, organist Trevor Gay and well-known operatic singer Enid Gay.
“From when I was six I started to develop a passion and an interest in music,” said Gay, who started his early education at St Matthew’s Primary School.
His first public appearance was at eight years old in the school’s chorale under the directorship of music teacher Johnny Koieman at the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA).
“We were successful with a silver award and other special awards. It is still very interesting to see the recording on CBC television.”
On graduating to Harrison College, Gay continued to build on his musical career. He was encouraged to sing at a school karaoke competition by a friend. The response he got made him feel good enough to enter the 2010 school pageant which he won along with Best Talent.
After that success he joined up with some guys from Combermere and Alleyne schools and formed the band Legend where he spent three years.
He also entered the Richard Stoute Teen Talent competition but though not a winner he described it as a very interesting experience.
“I think it helped me to expand my horizons of what I can and cannot do. From there I said ‘I would have had one experience in a competition so let’s take it a step further’.
?So he entered the NIFCA competition again this time to push his writing skills.
“It seemed to have paid off in 2012 because I was presented with the Jackie Opel Award for the best locally written, performed and arranged piece and then the LIME Creator’s Award for the Best Original Piece [last] year.”
These achievements pointed to an evolving talent on the local scene and he was selected to represent Barbados at the One Caribbean’s Voice contest in [Martinique] which he described as “truly an amazing experience”.
“I don’t think I will ever forget that. We spent a week in a country that we did not know. It was just like a family, we bonded really well and it was constant singing all day and the organizers probably got tired of it.”
Now with that much needed exposure Gay, an accounts student at the University of West Indies, Cave Hill campus, is looking to see how he can carry forward his music. He has paid special tribute to the likes of his cousin, former Digicel winner Dwayne Husbands who suggested jazz singer Marissa Lindsay as a voice coach.
Of Lindsay, he said: “She has helped me so much in everything I have been doing musically. She has been one of the major influences in my music to build my confidence, strength and technique; everything that I would need for my music career.”
Gay was not afraid to draw on other musical influences. These include local acts Edwin Yearwood, John King and Rihanna, whom he said has expanded the Barbados music industry.
“International influences are Bill Weithers, Stevie Wonder, John Legend and Brian McNight. I study these guys to see what they do so that I can do it too. These are the guys that play the piano and sing and I study them a lot in working on my music. I also take influences from all genres: spouge, reggae, soca, jazz, alternative and techno.”
Although his passion for music is unquestionable Gay is preparing for any eventuality.
“Currently I am pursuing my bachelor’s degree in accounting. If I am going to do something academically; one I would have to be good at it and two it must be beneficial to me in whatever goals I have in life. I realize an artist has to be aware of how his money is managed so I developed a talent with numbers, so I can use it.”
With his goals well-defined, Gay is hoping to do some recordings.
“I am looking at least in the next year and a half I would finish my degree and it is from there I would like to focus on my music for a while.”
With his talent Gay, who is no stranger to the bright lights, is determined to push the envelope in his quest for musical excellence in his unique way.
As he said: “There is something about the music industry – you can follow what’s going, but you can still be yourself.”
